Wanted Fugitive Captured after Traffic Stop near Cadillac

Wanted Fugitive Captured after Traffic Stop near Cadillac

CADILLAC, Mich (February 14, 2014) – A fugitive wanted for crimes out of Texas and Arkansas is now in police custody in Wexford County following a traffic stop near Cadillac on Thursday afternoon.

35-year-old John Nicholas Cote was taken into custody by Michigan State Troopers during a traffic stop along northbound U.S. 131.

Cote was wanted on felony warrants out of both Arkansas and Texas. He’s a parole absconder in Arkansas, and wanted for a felony assault charge in Johnson County, Texas.

John Nicholas Cote, 35 (Photo Courtesy: Wexford County Office of the Sheriff)

Michigan State Troopers say Cote was using the alias of a 42-year-old Texas truck driver that he was able to purchase before fleeing Texas, and had been working and living in the Grand Rapids area under the false identity for the last year and a half. He had a check stub from a Grand Rapids area factory using the fake identity in his possession.

During the traffic stop, Cote told Troopers he’d forgotten his wallet, but was able to provide a name, date of birth and Social Security number for the fraudulent identity. After finding inconsistencies with the identification, Cote was arrested and lodged at the Wexford County Jail for driving without a license.

Once in custody, Corrections Officers conducted a Live Scan fingerprinting of Cote, which in 30 minutes revealed his true identity.

Cote will also face additional charges in Michigan for furnishing false information to a police officer while driving without a license. Authorities in both Texas and Arkansas have placed holds on him and intend to extradite him to their states to face charges for the previous offenses.